Stress-reducing activities can help lower blood pressure

Although people with high stress and high blood pressure would generally see blood pressure go down after controlling stress, reducing stress might not lower blood pressure in everyone. But managing stress can help improve health in other ways. Learning how to manage stress can lead to healthy behavior changes — including those that lower blood pressure.

Here are some ways to manage stress:

• Adjust your schedule. If you have too much to do, look at your calendar and to-do lists. Ask others to do some things. Schedule less time for activities that aren't important to you. Say no to things you don't want to do.
• Breathe to relax. Taking deep, slow breaths can help you relax.
• Exercise regularly. Physical activity eases stress. Before starting an exercise program, get your healthcare professional's OK. This is even more important for those with high blood pressure.
• Try yoga and meditation. Yoga and meditation help you relax.
• Get enough sleep. Too little sleep can make problems seem worse than they are.
• Change how you see challenges. Accept your feelings about a situation. Then find ways to solve it.

Learn what works for you. Be willing to try new things. Get the health benefits, which might include lowering blood pressure.